Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-08
THE sINALOA COLONY.
Some Facts About the American Settle
msnt in sinalos, Mexico.


ment In sinaloa, Mexico.
Correspondence of the Gazette.
NEW YORK, March 25.-On March 4,
1887, Mr.. A. X. Owen wrote letter to
Governor Luis Torres of Sonora, from
which the following language is taken:
81 ana pleased to report that there were
in the Credit Foncler settlements in
Snaloa, March l, 1887, 293 adults and
III children, total of 40 persons
Among these there were ia married
women and men, 165 single men, Is uI-
married women, and l widow.
''Since the first landing made at Topo-
IobampO harbOr, November IL, 1886, to
March |, 1887, there have been but i've
deaths, three children and two men. One
child died from the results which followed
an attack of measles. This little boy left
Kansas sick, and was complaining en-
route. The others died from smallpox
brought from Guaymas. The last patient
left the hospital February l5, and since
that date there has not been a case Of
sickness of any sort reported in any of
our camps. The health of our cOlOnists
III fact, is absolutely perfect; and every
one now present seems To enjoy the eli
mate and the locality.
There is plenty of provisions in our
camps, and there always has been. Every
one eats three meals each day. The
fishermen supply fish from the bay.
There is always good quantity OF excel
lent water IN our camp on the Straits OF
Joshua for drinking and cooking pur-
poses, but for bathing we use salt water,
The fresh water is brought IN barrels by
our sloop from Copas and Santa Maria,
six and nine miles, respectively, from
our landing. 1t is soft, sweet, and in
every respect better than that in Quay
mas. Our lsundries are at VegatOn ON
the river Fuerte, where, of coure, we
have the best of river facilities.
The wagon road is maze from
our wharf on the bay (TOpolobampo)
thirty-tve miles to VegsIiOn, our town
site just mentioned. A stone house
IOOxIOO teet with three feet walls is partly
finished at the landing. Oae kiln of
bricks is burning for house on the
river. The irrigated farm of 800 acres is
under cultivation, and our garden of
three and One-half acres has vegetables
well advanced. Our nursery Of trees and
vines from California is doing well; and
unity of purpose, good discipline, cheer
fulness OF disposition and determination
to accomplish The plan set forth in the
prospectus of our colony is manifest upon
every countenanCe.
"Senor Don Pedro Victoria, SPECIAL
officer from the custom house at
Mazatlan, has visited our settlements and
is now on this steamer en- route south.
He established custom officers at our
landing on the north shore of the Straits
of Joshua, and vessels may now be dis
charged, loaded and cleared the same
day. The government mas also notified
our representative at Mexico, Senior
POmbO, that q postmaster will be sent at
once to open an office with US.
1--WE have given permission, by the re-
quest of Senior Don Pedro Victoria, to
vessels to discharge and load freights at
our wharf, and to the citizens of Sonora
and SinalOa to use our road to and
from our landing, always, however, pro
viding that they cooperate with US in
carrying out the regulations established
by the government of Mexico and by oar
own colonlsts for the preservation of the
harbor, of its depths, purity, fish, seals
birds, etc, ETC., and for the sanitation CT
the locality.
The waters and shores of TopolObempO
harbDr at present are in perfect keeping
with wholesome life, and We wish visitors
to cooperate with Us t keep them so.
We also wish persons who are not col
Onists to understand that we do not wish
them to come to build places for shelter
upon our lands, at the landing or else
where; for we have nothing to sell as yet,
nor do we wish to employ them in any
way, nor do we need to buy from them.
They are in our way in some instances
already, and are in danger of being hurt
by falling rocks, etc, which we are now
blasting.
As soon as We have our publishing out
fit ready, we will publish the port regu-
lations of Mexico in Spanish, for the in
formation of all, together with the details
connected with our organization, that
native Mexicans may become informed
and attracted to join US in building a city
and railroad.
We make these statements at this time
in reply to your telegram to Consul Will
lard at Guaymas, and to offset anything
to the contrary which NAV be said ma
liciously or otherwise. The Hawkins
Eaton Turner party, thirty in all, went
to Topolobampo against our positive or
ders, without any preparation for a So
iourn in Sinaloa, and while there they
made themselves so obnoxious TO our
colonists, they W re given to understand
that If they did not settle down to work
! in the regular order observed by The
others, they would be dealt with in a way
far from pleasant to their proud feelings
Hence, in the stiffness of the midnight
hour, they stole away from our camps
| =
There are four bouys on the bar and in
the channel-the middle entrance to To-
polobampo harbor. Two were placed in
December by the steamer Altata, and two
were placed in January by the steamer
Newberne. We have two iron bouys al
our wharf, but have not yet had time tc
properly survey the channel to place
them. The souudings Oh the bar taken
by Captain Char es I. Robinson of the
steamer Altata at from to p. m Feb
ruary %, at dead low water on the neap
tide. show l84 feet; and March l, by
keeping q little north of the line Of the
BOWS now there, on one hours flood
tide C. p. M we measured 81 feet in the
| lowest place on the bar.
The following accompanied the copy Of
the letter to Governor Torres:
Report Of soundings made by steamer
Altata; entering TOpolobampo bay, Sin
n